summary. having been cursed to be immortal, you are destined to lose your soulmate horribly every different realm you take ... can you stop it just this time?
warnings / includes . terrible fucking angst, heavy themes of death, hint of an suicide attempt, love
somebody once said that when the rain pours down upon oneself, that's the way to feel the most alive. but what's the use of it when you don't deserve to be such? the rain isn't there for you, it's for the plants that have been starving on the streets, just like the ones he norouished in his garden back in the renaissance.
but that's the thing about humans and gods, they are selfish foolish creatures who lack empathy for anyone but themselves, they shall lie and betray and curse, yet never acknowledge the pain they cause. take take take. never him though, him and his tiny dimples that he showed just for you, perhaps they were the reason his flowers stayed alive for so long. human fucking sunlight, he was.
it used to warm you, like a heavy blanket on a cold winter day, like the comforting tea your mother brews when you were sick as a child. yet it fades once more, is replaced by a freezing like feeling, it's the dark rain dampening your clothes, mostly. and the heavy dog tags around your neck, made of cold metal.
they used to ground you, now it's just a constant reminder of everything that could've been, far far gone.
you were just a nurse back then, nothing more than a nameless face among a sea of wounded men. when the man you loved — a soldier who swore he would come back to you — finally staggered into that field hospital, bleeding and broken, there was nothing in the world that could save him. not your desperate hands, not the morphine you tried to push through his veins, nothing.
you remember the look in his eyes before it was over; familiar, loving, and yet filled with an unspoken apology. he was sorry. he was sorry for dying, repeating the cycle you warned him about. and all you could do was clutch onto him, whisper into his damp skin, prayers to him and to the gods above, to keep jungkook. just this once, just a single time.
they never listened.
you clutch onto the wet railing of the bridge, like you held onto his arm back then, craddled his face, muttered utter nonsense into the thin air, that you knew deep down he wouldn't even hear anymore. crazy what death does to people.
the rain beats against your skin, colder now, harsher. your fingers ache with the effort of holding onto the railing, your eyes close, remembering the last time you saw him.
he kissed you then, soft, as though the world around didn’t matter. and you kissed him back, tasting the salt of his tears on your lips. ‘i’m sorry,’ he whispered, and you responded quietly that he should stop apologizing all the time, that it wasn't his fault. it never was.
damned be jungkook and his endless empathy and love, in every universe.
your hand slides up to your neck, fingers brushing against your cold skin, moving to your chest, the rapid heartbeat inside. it just wasn't fair.
you hear footsteps behind you, soft, barerly audible within the sound of pouring rain, yet you don't turn around. you can't, you can't turn around to face the face that was equally as cursed as your own, that you've hurt countless times just by being you. but most of all, you were scared.
"hey," his voice is low, gentle, but there’s a tremor to it — a hesitation that speaks volumes, maybe jungkook was scared you'd jump of the bridge the way you were clutching onto the railing, that was likely. god, such a jungkook thing to do, try to prevent a complete stranger from committing. you feel incredibly numb, keep looking forward.
“you’re not alone,” he says quietly, like it’s the most natural thing in the world to say. like it’s the truth, even though you knew it wasn't, and he was the reason for it.
he steps one step closer, and you can feel a hand on your back, warm just like centuries ago. your own hand comes to cover your eyes, to him it might seem like you don't want him to see that you cried or rather, are currently crying. when in reality, you were to scared to meet his eyes.
"please leave-" you barerly press out, gaze settling on the black water below, anywhere just not behind you.
"i can't do that."
"you don't understand," you screech a bit louder, like raising your voice would somehow prevent him, safe him — from loving you again.
"i understand more then you know."
“you don't even know me, go away.” the yelled words are harsh, yet another futile attempt to push him away; the tenderness in his voice, the warmth of his hand, the ache in your chest that only he seems to cause.
instead of leaving, you feel his other hand on your wrist, gentle, like he’s afraid you’ll shatter under his touch, turning you around softly.
defenseman!taehyung x social media manager!fem!reader
hockey!au
genre: fluff, slight angst, smut
summary: The home opener of hockey season is crazy for everyone, but when star defensemen Kim Taehyung takes a specific interest in you, who are you to turn him down?
warnings: sports things, taehyung being a flirt but also very sweet, reader trying to convince herself that she isn't allowed to like him, very minor hockey related violence, swearing, small amount of alcohol consumption (no one gets drunk!), feelings admissions. Specific smut warnings: dom!tae, sub!reader, public sex, bathroom sex (they're alone in there), mirror sex, oral (m receiving), fingering (f receiving), unprotected sex (be better than them), begging, he comes on her back lol, some spit, praise, aftercare.
an: I am a whore for both hockey and bangtan, so here we are. As always this wasn’t proofread or edited so there might be typos! Also happy birthday Tae. love u so much king
The sound of fans funneling into the arena buzzes through the air, making you more than grateful for the direct feed of your coworkers’ voices in your ear.
“Team intros start in 15, do we have time for some pre-game content before that, Y/N?”
Your mind reels at the idea of subjecting yourself to the locker room so shortly before the game, but you’re nothing if not professional. The concrete halls echo with sound, the low bass of the pre-game playlist rumbling under the soles of your boots. The door to the locker room is open, allowing a direct view of the bustling bodies within it. You don’t bother to knock or warn them before you waltz in, team phone in hand, and get to work. A few players give you friendly nods while strapping pads on, but you’re largely ignored in favor of their own conversations.
There’s no time to set up a mic, or ask them to answer any questions, so you settle on taking some simple footage of them getting dressed, enjoying their pre-game hype. Despite your college degree in marketing and plenty of training from the previous social media manager, you would be lying if you said you felt confident in interacting with this impressive team.
As a fan, you know that the season opener night is always bound to be loud, stressful, and busy; but you didn’t expect to feel quite so nervous.
You open instagram, panning carefully around the fancy locker room to give the fans a look at everyone getting dressed, lacing up skates. Upon reviewing the footage you’re disappointed to see that it’s shaky, indicative of the nerves running through your veins.
“Shit.” You mutter, deleting the footage and heaving a sigh at how quickly the time is ticking down. You were probably down to less than 10 minutes before they’re due on the ice.
“Anything I can help you with?” A gentle, deep voice asks. Your heart stutters under your sweatshirt as you get the courage to turn.
Looking down at you with his pretty, intimidating eyes is Kim Taehyung, star defenseman. The skates give him another few inches on his already towering frame, and you can only imagine how scary he would be skating towards you on the ice.
You stare, mesmerized by how real he looks. A knowing smirk blooms on his face.
“...anything I can help you with?” He asks again, a teasing lilt to his voice as he crinkles his nose in an endearingly boyish way. You mentally slap yourself for falling for his charm so quickly. This is your job, for gods sake. You have no business fantasizing about how handsome the players are.
“Uh-um yeah, I need to do a quick interview with you, is that okay?” You hate the way your voice shakes, and you’re not even sure how he heard you over the ruckus of the locker room.
“Sure,” he squares his shoulders, brushing some hairs off of his forehead. “Where do you want me?”
The lilt of his voice suggests he knows the heat that just shot to your face was because of him, but you decide to pretend he wasn’t making you feel hot under the collar. “Can you just sit on that bench, there?” He follows your orders without hesitation as you stand in front of him, framing the shot as best as you can. Aware of the low amount of time on the clock, you ask the first question that comes to mind.
“How are you feeling about tonight?”
Taehyung smirks, and you can feel your heart rate speed up as he makes eye contact with you instead of the camera. “Feeling like I’ll be getting lucky tonight. Chances of scoring are looking very good.” He flashes a toothy smile and you convince yourself the tremble in your knees was just because of the cold in the arena.
“Okay…what’s your favorite pre-game ritual?” He bites his lip, looking the epitome of fuck boy, before dissolving into a fit of giggles. “Uh…um..I guess, making sure to retape my stick before every game?” He sounds unsure but you don’t have time to press the issue, aware that the other players were lining up to have a final talk with their coach before heading out. You put the phone away and nod congenitally at him for his cooperation.
“Tae!” His teammates call for him, all dressed besides their helmets, to join them in the huddle. He hauls himself up, making no effort to avoiding bumping into you as he passes. His hand catches you around the waist and he leans down subtly. “I lied, by the way. My favorite pre game ritual isn’t retaping my stick... it’s a lot more fun than that.” His proximity makes you shiver, and the pointed way he looks at your lips all but sets you alight. “Well, you’re a smart girl. See you later, yeah?” He walks away briskly, leaving you breathless in his wake.
---
Pre season games had established the team at the top of the division already, but watching them in action, standing on the side by the boards and photography team, you feel electrified. As the end of the third period closes in, the arena is ablaze with the happy hum of fans observing a 5-2 win.
You take a moment to check the team’s socials, seeing that the things you added to instagram did pretty god numbers, and that one of your media team members had cross uploaded the interview you did with Taehyung to TikTok. The amount of views and comments was stunning, and you couldn’t help but feel quite accomplished at such a quickly made video doing so well. The comments take a second to load, but the top one makes your cheeks flame.
hockeygirl10: hes totally into whoever is interviewing him lol
Your mind reels as you see the rest of the comments are similar, and for a second you consider asking someone to delete the comments or take the video down altogether, but the amount of shares and views on the video makes your stomach tingle excitedly. Instead you decide to praise your media team for cross posting, knowing that making a viral clip the first night of the season will only make the whole season’s media better.
The chat opens just as the pane of glass in front of you rattles viciously; making you jump as the photographer next to you snaps a series of pictures. You look up and immediately make eye contact with a smirking Taehyung, who had just ran an opposing player into the board right in front of you. Sweat drips down his cheeks and plasters his hair to his forehead but that somehow serves to make him look hotter, and if that wasn't enough, he smirks. You suddenly feel too hot in your sweatshirt despite the arena’s chilled temperature. The man Taehyung had boarded skates away, but he lingers for a few seconds.
“Put that away!” He yells, and is gone just as you process what he said to you. Embarrassment floods your system as you realize he must have seen you glued to your phone instead of watching the game. You watch him skate away, and within seconds he’d regained the puck and was advancing on the net. The puck goes in smoothly; sliding right past the goalie before he even notices it. A buzzer sounds and the red light flashes, signaling the goal to the rowdy crowd.
Taehyung is immediately surrounded by his teammates as they celebrate, and he takes his lap around the rink as the announcer details his goal to the audience. He stops in front of you again, pounding on the glass and giving you a charmingly boxy smile that makes your stomach flip. He’s gone in a flash, having to go back to the bench now that he’d done so much work. Your heart beats much faster than it should for the situation, but you can’t help but wonder if that goal had been for you.
---
The energy on the ice translates directly to the locker room after the game ends. The boys are yelling, clapping each other on the back and laughing as they lounge in more comfortable clothing. While alcohol is technically forbidden in the locker room, the coach and staff have all turned a blind eye on the account of such an amazing game, so a small table is crowded with cases of alcohol. You decide to join the spirit of the night and grab a White Claw with your co workers, celebrating both the game and the success of the media accounts.
“Hey, Y/N, did you see how well that interview is doing on TikTok?” One of your new intern asks as you’re in between sips. The comments flash through your mind as you nod.
“Yeah, I saw. Cross posting it really helped I think.” You meekly suggest.
“Fuck no, girl. It was the way he was looking at you. You have to be honest...” she leans in close, as if she were giving away an industry secret to you. “Are you fucking him?” Your heart leaps into your throat as you emphatically shake your head.
“No! No, I’m professional and technically I work for him so that would be so weird...he’s just like, he’s handsome and charming and everything but he...It just feels so not allowed...so I’m ignoring it!” Her eyes widen at your outburst, and the way you ramble through your sentences makes you feel like she’s judging your stability, so you try to drive your point home. “I honestly think that Taehyung is the hottest man I’ve ever seen, and I wish I was fucking him, but I’m sure he doesn’t even like me like that so I’m gonna…pretend my feelings don’t exist.” You raise your can to her in a half hearted toast before downing the rest of it in one go.
It’s not nearly enough to even make you tipsy, but it felt so good that you immediately want another. Your intern’s face morphs into horror, and for a second you think that she’s just mortified to be working for you, but then you back up right into a hard body.
“Hey, Y/N.”
Taehyung’s voice makes you recoil, but he gives you no time to recover before he spins on you and grabs your wrist in a gentle but firm grip. The simple touch alone ruins any arguments you may have had, and you allow him to weave you through a crowd and into the hallway.
“Let’s go for a walk?” His voice is surprisingly light given the brisk pace he walks at but you follow, eager to see where this would head. He takes large, sure steps until you reach the empty concourse. The food stalls and beer stands are empty; lights halfway powered down since all of the patrons had long left. Taehyung leans casually against a walkway railing, admiring the view of the city from the tall windows at the front of the building.
“Taehyung- I’m sorry if you heard any of that. It was super unprofessional of me, and-”
“Stop it, Y/N.” He cocks his head and examines you leaning on the bars next to him. “You know I’ve always thought you were the prettiest social media manager we’ve ever had? I remember the day we met you in the big conference room in the back.”
You remember the day too. It was only a few months ago but feels like ages at this point. Having passed the technical parts of the interview and successfully pitching your ideas for social media posts, the final part of the interview was simply for you to meet the players and make sure you all got along. After all, if they weren’t happy with how you presented them or their team, it would mean you being let go. Of course all of them were kind-they all knew what you were there for- but you remember that Taehyung was one of the only players who gave you a sincere handshake. As strictly business as it felt, getting a firm handshake as a woman in a sports organization dominated by men felt vindicating.
“I remember too, Taehyung. And it was really nice of you to be so welcoming to me. And that’s part of why I feel so bad that I...” you wave your hands between your bodies wildly, “feel. I’m glad to move on like this didn’t happen, and I can assign someone else to do your stuff.”
Taehyung just stares, his pretty chocolate eyes turned up in amusement. “Y/N, I just called you pretty, and you're still worried you crossed a line? I think you’re fucking gorgeous. And smart, and talented. The only line you crossed is the one into my heart.”
You can't help the laugh that bursts forward at his cheesy line, and to your delight he joins in, shaking his messy mop of curls in the process. “So...about you finding me handsome and charming...” his hands curl around your hips, bringing you into his personal space. He smells like pine and beer, and your pussy throbs at the way his thumbs stroke your back. You place your hands on his chest, delighting in the hard plane of muscle there.
“Hm, I do think those things. What are you gonna do about them?” All your past feelings of regret and doubt begin to evaporate as his face inches closer to yours, lips a millisecond from your own. You give him a subtle nod and his lips are on yours, wasting no time to shove his tongue into your mouth. Startled, you moan into him and wrap your hands around his neck. He maneuvers to press you against the hand railing easily without giving up the kiss, and a huff of a moan leaves his mouth as your bodies meld. The hot press of his body against your own leaves you panting, feeling so secured under his touch.
“Taehyung, please,” you plead, leaning your forehead against his chest to take a deep shuttering breath. “Wanna feel you.” You whimper, afraid to be heard even though everyone left in the arena is very far away. Taehyung hums, petting the hair at the back of your head.
“Can’t fuck you out here, baby. C’mon.”
You follow him blindly again, driven by nothing but the roiling lust you’re feeling for him. He leads you into the closest bathroom, and despite the fact you know you likely won’t get caught, anxiety spikes through you.
“Don’t look so scared, baby. Nobody's gonna find us, I promise.” His voice had somehow deepened since the last time he spoke, and it makes your insides melt. Taehyung recaptures your waist, guiding you back towards the ledge of the row of sinks. His fingers cup your chin, rubbing delicately underneath your bottom lip. Your heart stutters as you study the little moles on his face, the soft curls that flop over his eyebrows.
“You’re so handsome.” The words spring forward before you can stop them, and Taehyung tips his head back to laugh. Eyes sparkling, he presses a kiss to your forehead.
“You’re so pretty. And cute,” he pinches your side playfully to make you squirm, pitching you forward into his body until you can feel how hard he is under his sweatpants. His eyes roll at the contact as you slide your hands under his shirt, thankful that he only had the one layer on. He makes short work of getting his shirt off and promptly buries his head in your neck. He nips at he flesh and you know its going to bruise, but that only makes you hotter between your legs.
“Gonna make you mine, baby. Fuck that little pussy so good that you’ll never forget me, huh?” You keen under him, moaning out an affirmation as you let your hand travel over the smooth skin of his stomach. He shudders against you as your hand curls around the width of his cock through his sweatpants, teasing the head of his cock with your fingertip. It twitches under your touch and your mouth waters.
“Lemme taste you, Taehyung.” You give him no time to protest as you sink to the tiled floor in front of him. Your panties stick to you uncomfortably as you move, but you ignore the feeling in favor of working his pants down his thick thighs. They come to you in all their tanned, muscled glory; and his impressive cock stands at attention. The head is flushed a pretty pink, the prominent vein along the bottom prompting you to stick your tongue out and taste him.
Taehyung groans, hands falling to the crown of your head. “You gonna suck me off, or should I fuck your little throat?” His eyes are dark as they peer down at you, almost mirroring the intense look he gets on the ice. You press your thighs together at his words, but waste no more time to take him into your mouth. The stretch pushes your limits but you breathe through it, blinding through your tears as you sink him into your throat. Taehyung lets a constant stream of moans and curses free, fighting against his instinct to buck his hips into your mouth.
Spit escapes from your mouth as you bob your head, soaking his cock and your chin in a thick sheen. You can feel your makeup running as tears brim your eyes, and the ache in your jaw is coming through more prominently; but the way that Taehyung’s cock twitches inside of your mouth is enough reason to keep going.
“Fuck, if your throat is this fucking tight and hot, can’t imagine your pussy.” He’s practically purring as you grip at his thighs and swallow, determined to make him spill down your throat. His thighs shutter and he reels as if electrocuted, pulling out of your mouth. A long string of saliva connects your lips to the tip of his cock and you gasp. Taehyung bends to your height and loops his hands under your armpits. Before you know it, he has you bent over the sinks, staring at your wrecked reflection in the mirror. Your mascara is smeared, skin red from exertion.
“Gotta get this stuff off of you, okay?” He helps you out of your top layers clumsily, throwing the garments aside in favor of groping your tits. Taehyung practically growls as he reaches around to unbutton your jeans and work them down your hips. You bow your head in embarrassment of your own reflection when he exposes your soaked through panties. He runs his fingers over your pussy, tutting as he feels the way you shiver.
“So pretty in these ruined panties, baby.” He plans a kiss on your ass cheek before looping his fingers under the fabric and pulling it down to the ground with your jeans. He moans, immediately cupping your pussy with his calloused hand. Your head shoots up at the feeling, giving you a great view of the way he bites his lip in concentration as he teases a finger around your entrance. He meets your gaze through the mirror and smirks just the same way he had on the ice earlier. Your pussy flutters at the thought and he feels it, laughing evilly at the feeling.
“Want your fingers.” You keen as he teases a single one at your entrance. “T-two of them, please” The request punches out of you but he easily obliges, slipping both fingers in for a slow but satisfying stretch. Your whole core clenches as you feel his digits fill you, but the stretch blossoms into pleasure as soon as he begins to move them, opening up your pussy for him. Your hands scrabble across the countertop in search of support and Taehyung huffs a laugh before offering you his free hand to clutch. You know he’s likely going to have bold red scratches all down his hand and arm tomorrow, but that’s truly an issue for later. Your center throbs, a warning of an oncoming orgasm, and you eyes instinctively clench shut.
Taehyung’s hand stills inside of you and you wail, scrabbling to turn around and figure out why he had stopped. The weight of his fingers inside you is enough to keep you on edge, but you’re desperate for him to finish the job.
“Why did you stop?” You whine, circling your hips back into his unmoving hand. A feeling of desperation begins to crawl up your throat as you hiccup a breath. “Please, I’ve been good.”
Taehyung tuts at your words and untangles his hand from your own before threading it through your mussed hair. “Look up,” he moves your head for you, “And keep those pretty eyes open so you can see just how sexy you look right now.” His fingers come to life inside you again the second that you lock your eyes on him through the mirror, and you struggle to keep them open. Your stomach churns with your incoming release, and you wiggle against his hold until the dam bursts. Your orgasm is sharp, causing a loud moan that doesn’t even sound like yourself to spring from your lips. Taehyung growls at the feeling, making sure his movements don’t slow as your body gets wracked with pleasure. When you’re finally back to consciousness, the first thing you feel is the weight of Taehyung’s cock twitching against your ass.
Despite just coming, you’re voracious for him and rock your hips back just to hear him moan. You mourn the sudden loss of his fingers, but lose all of the air in your lungs as soon as you catch his gaze in the mirror. His tanned chest heaves with exertion, sweaty just as you had seen him during the game, as he brings his fingers to his mouth and sucks on them, moaning to himself as he tastes you on his tongue.
Then, he bends and promptly spits on you, watching the glob travel between your ass cheeks until it finally reaches your pussy. “What a pretty little thing,” he praises as he spreads the spit around your sensitive lips. Your words have abandoned you, so you simply hum as you keep your eyes on the mirror, enjoying the view of his body in all its glory.
He catches you staring and indulges you, stepping to the side so you can get a clear view as he strokes his cock in earnest. Your chest heaves with anticipation, nipples peaked and sensitive against the cold countertop.
“Think I should put it in, sweetheart? Need my big cock inside you?” He sounds like he couldn’t care less what you choose, but the bright red color of his tip says otherwise. Nevertheless, you decide to indulge his question.
“Yes, Taehyung! Please put it in me, I’ve been waiting all night for you…” you watch his gaze darken in real time, and you guess he must have been able to sense the truth in your words. You really had been thinking of this all night.
“Fuck, Y/N. Me too, I never thought I’d get you like this.” He cages you in from behind again, this time wasting no time to tease his cock against your entrance. His hips stutter forward and his face morphs into something close to pain- your heart shoots out of your chest at the pained groan he lets out.
“I don’ have a condom, I’m so sorry.” He sounds so defeated that your heart cracks a little and you stand up, turning to face him. He looks every ounce of innocent he could with his bottom lip pouted out as you cup his face in your hands. You can’t resist placing a little kiss on his nose.
“I’m on the pill.” You whisper the magic words just loud enough that he can hear, and his face brightens like a kid on Christmas.
“Seriously? You’re the best, fuck,” he smashes his lips to yours in a sloppy kiss, uncaring that your teeth are clacking together. “I promise I’ll still pull out, just in case, baby.” You nod dumbly, just happy to be under the influence of his affection.
“Alright, let me see that pussy,” he slaps at your ass playfully and you can help but shake your head at the way his attitude shifts so rapidly. His newfound confidence shows as he places a hand against your lower back before pushing inside of you. You keen as he stretches your walls, the pulsing feeling of your muscles moving around him becoming addicting already.
He shares the sentiment with a deep moan, head lulling backwards as he gives you an experimental thrust that sends your upper body rocking against the countertop. The more confident he becomes, the more his hands roam your body. One hand settles comfortably on your clit; tracing delicate circles on the edge of it while he works into your pussy. His other hand rests on your shoulder, the grip firm enough to keep you in place as you writhe in pleasure.
“T-taehyung,” you gasp his name more times than you can keep track of, biting into your lip so hard you taste blood. Every time you make eye contact through the mirror he goes harder, as if he had something to prove.
“Look at you, baby. All fucking mine, huh? You like being my girl?” The thought makes your head spin so you nod and are instantly rewarded with harder circles on your clit. Your back arches at the pleasure and Taehyung grunts, adding a second finger to strum over you.
“Gonna cum,” you warn, voice thin and raspy as your vision blurs. Clearly encouraged, he angles his hips just right and mutters a filthy string of praise, sending you over the edge. You come in a prolonged wave that you feel all the way from your toes to your scalp, a shockwave of pleasure that numbs you to the world in the best was possible. Taehyung’s deep groans cut through it all, and you’re actually kind of impressed with his self control as he pulls out of you and you feel his hot cum all over your back seconds later.
You’re already feeling grounded by the time his breathing settles, but the fear of dripping cum onto the floor keeps you bent over the sinks. Luckily he catches on fast and wipes you up with a paper towel.
“Romantic,” you giggle as he throws the paper towel away and immediately goes to wash his hands. He grins that smile that makes his nose wrinkle and captures you in a hug. It feels weird to already be this intimate with him, but the way he radiates comfort makes you sag under his touch.
“Sleepy now,” you mumble, letting his gentle hands caress your back. He nods and pets your sweaty hair back down.
“Let’s get you dressed and off to home, okay?” You press another kiss to his nose before you part.
author: @bratzkoo
pairings: jimin x reader, taehyung x reader
genre: fluff, angst
rating: PG-15
words: 5.1k~
warnings: taehyung and jimin jumping ropes between red and green flag. jungkook in general.
summary: with the question of “who will you pick, the one you love or the one who loves you?” you navigate adulthood while chasing and being chased. you love taehyung and jimin loves you.
taglist: -
masterlist
Three weeks after the exhibition, Y/N's photographs remained on display at Harbor Gallery—now with small red "SOLD" stickers beside two of them. The validation was sweet, but the real triumph was the small studio space above Yoongi's music shop that she'd secured with her first sales.
Today, she stood in the center of the empty room, watching dust particles dance in the light streaming through the large windows. The hardwood floors needed refinishing and the walls desperately needed paint, but the natural light was perfect. This was hers—the first real space that belonged entirely to her vision.
"So? What's the verdict?" Yoongi leaned against the doorframe, his characteristic calm a contrast to her barely contained excitement.
"It's perfect," Y/N said, turning a slow circle. "The northern exposure is exactly what I need."
Yoongi nodded, satisfied. "Figured you'd appreciate that. Taehyung said you always talked about ideal studio lighting back in school."
Y/N blinked, surprised. "He remembered that?"
"Tae remembers everything. He just doesn't always show it." Yoongi handed her the keys. "Rent's due first of the month. I'll send someone to fix that leak in the corner before you move your equipment in."
As Yoongi headed back downstairs, Y/N's phone buzzed with a text from Taehyung: Studio hunting successful?
She smiled, typing back: Perfect light. Perfect space. When are you free to see it?
The response came quickly: Tonight? Finishing at the studio late. 9PM?
Y/N hesitated. Such a late meeting felt different—more intimate somehow. Sure. I'll bring celebratory drinks.
---
By 8:45 that evening, Y/N had swept the floors, wiped down the windows, and set up a makeshift seating area with cushions borrowed from Jimin's apartment. A bottle of wine and two glasses sat on a wooden crate that would eventually become part of a storage system. She'd changed outfits twice before settling on simple jeans and a soft blue sweater—casual but flattering.
She was fussing with the arrangement of cushions when she heard footsteps on the stairs.
"Y/N?" Taehyung's voice called.
"Come in!" She straightened up, suddenly nervous.
Taehyung appeared in the doorway, holding a small potted plant with delicate white flowers. "Studio-warming gift," he explained, setting it on the windowsill. "Snake plant. Impossible to kill, even for people who forget to water things when they're in creative mode."
The thoughtfulness of the gesture caught her off guard. "You know me too well."
"I used to." He looked around the space, then back at her. "I'm hoping to again."
Something in his direct gaze made her stomach flip. Y/N turned to open the wine, giving herself a moment to compose her thoughts. "How was the studio session?"
"Productive. Finally got the bridge right on that piece I played for you." He wandered around the room, running his hand along the wall. "This space has good energy. You can feel its potential."
Y/N handed him a glass of wine. "That's exactly what I thought. It needs work, but..."
"It's like a blank canvas," he finished. "Ready for your imprint."
They clinked glasses and sipped in comfortable silence. Taehyung moved to the windows, looking out at the town's twinkling lights below.
"I missed this view," he said quietly. "In Seoul, everything was so high up and distant. Here, you can see real life happening."
Y/N joined him at the window. "You could have stayed there, though. Made a career in the city."
He turned to her, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "Some things were worth coming back for."
The air between them seemed to thicken. Y/N was acutely aware of how close they were standing, how easy it would be to lean forward just slightly.
Taehyung's phone buzzed, breaking the moment. He glanced at it and sighed. "Producer wants revisions by morning."
"You should go," she said, disappointed but understanding.
"I should," he agreed, not moving. Instead, he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her cheek. "But I don't want to."
Her heart hammered against her ribs. "Tae..."
The sound of his name seemed to decide something for him. He leaned in slowly, giving her every chance to pull away, before pressing his lips to hers in a gentle kiss that quickly deepened as Y/N responded. His hands cupped her face, and hers found their way to his waist, pulling him closer.
When they finally separated, both slightly breathless, Taehyung rested his forehead against hers. "I've been wanting to do that since you came back," he admitted.
"Me too," she whispered.
His phone buzzed again, insistent. Taehyung closed his eyes in frustration before reluctantly pulling away. "I really do have to go. Deadline."
Y/N nodded, still dizzy from the kiss. "I understand."
He gathered his jacket, pausing at the door. "Dinner tomorrow? My place? No work interruptions this time."
"I'd like that," she said, smiling.
After he left, Y/N sat by the window for a long time, touching her lips and watching the town below, her mind replaying the kiss while her heart raced with possibilities.
---
"You're distracted today," Jimin observed the next morning as they shared breakfast at the café. "Something happen with the studio?"
Y/N stirred her coffee, debating how much to share. "Taehyung came by to see it last night."
"Ah." Jimin's expression remained carefully neutral. "And?"
"And... we kissed." The words came out in a rush.
Jimin's spoon paused halfway to his mouth, then continued as if nothing had happened. "I see." He took a deliberate bite of oatmeal. "Are you... happy about that?"
The question was so fundamentally Jimin—concerned with her feelings before anything else—that Y/N felt a surge of affection for him. "I think so. I mean, yes. It's what I wanted."
Jimin nodded slowly. "Then I'm happy for you." His smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Jimin..." Y/N started, unsure what she wanted to say.
"It's okay," he interrupted gently. "Really. You and Tae... there's always been something there. Everyone knows that."
An uncomfortable silence fell between them. Y/N searched for words to bridge the gap she could feel forming. "You're still my best friend. That doesn't change."
"Of course not." Jimin looked up with a more genuine smile this time. "Nothing changes that." He glanced at his watch. "I should get to work. Big event planning meeting."
As he stood to leave, Y/N caught his hand. "Are we okay?"
Jimin squeezed her fingers reassuringly. "Always. Just... be careful with your heart, Y/N. Taehyung lives in the moment. It's what makes him brilliant, but..."
"But also what makes him Taehyung," she finished quietly.
Jimin nodded. "Exactly." He released her hand. "Call if you need anything. Anytime."
Y/N watched him walk away, feeling a complex tangle of emotions—happiness about Taehyung warring with concern about shifting dynamics with Jimin. For the first time, she wondered if returning home had been simpler in theory than practice.
---
The following weeks unfolded in a whirlwind of activity. Y/N's days were filled with setting up her studio space, meeting with potential clients, and developing a new photography series inspired by her homecoming. Her evenings increasingly belonged to Taehyung—cooking dinner at his apartment, listening to his latest compositions, losing track of time in conversations that flowed effortlessly until the early hours.
Being with Taehyung was intoxicating—his passion for creation matched her own, his perspective challenged her thinking, and their physical chemistry was undeniable. Yet there remained something ephemeral about their connection, as if she was trying to capture smoke between her fingers.
Some nights he would disappear into his creative process, unreachable by text or call, only to emerge days later with brilliant work and no acknowledgment of his absence. Y/N found herself making excuses for these disappearances—that's just how artists work, she told herself. That's the price of loving someone with a mind like his.
Loving. The word had slipped into her thoughts before she could examine it properly.
Meanwhile, her friendship with Jimin had acquired a careful quality—both of them navigating new boundaries. He remained constant in his support, helping her hang shelves in the studio, connecting her with his extensive network of contacts, always answering her calls no matter the hour. But something had shifted—a guardedness in his smile, a careful distance he maintained even in their closest moments.
When the invitation came for the regional photography competition, it was Jimin who brought her the information, neatly printed and paperclipped to relevant submission deadlines.
"You should enter," he said, setting the papers on her desk as she edited client photos. "The exposure would be good for building your local portfolio."
Y/N scrolled through the details. "The theme is 'Perspective Shifts.' That's... actually perfect for the series I'm working on."
"I thought so too." Jimin leaned against her desk, careful not to disturb her organized chaos. "The judging panel includes some important regional names. Plus, the winner gets featured in East Coast Arts Monthly."
Y/N looked up at him, touched by his continued investment in her career. "Have you told Taehyung about this?"
A shadow crossed Jimin's face. "I haven't seen him this week. He's been in Seoul, hasn't he?"
Y/N tried to mask her surprise. "Seoul? He told me he was on a studio lockdown for a deadline."
An awkward silence fell between them. Jimin shifted uncomfortably. "Maybe I got it wrong. Yoongi mentioned something about a meeting with producers, I assumed..."
"No, it's fine," Y/N said quickly, embarrassment heating her cheeks. "We don't check in daily or anything."
Jimin studied her for a moment before speaking again. "Y/N—"
"I should get these competition entries started," she interrupted, not ready for whatever he was about to say. "Thank you for bringing this. Really."
Understanding flashed in Jimin's eyes. "Of course." He pushed off from the desk. "I'll let you work. Dinner tomorrow? The new Thai place opened."
Y/N smiled gratefully. "That sounds perfect."
After he left, she stared at the competition details without really seeing them, unsettled by the realization that Taehyung hadn't been entirely truthful about his whereabouts. It wasn't that they'd made explicit commitments to each other, but the casual omission felt significant.
Her phone chimed with a text from Taehyung: Back tomorrow. Miss you. Your place or mine?
She hesitated before responding: Mine. 7PM.
---
When Taehyung arrived the next evening, he carried takeout from her favorite restaurant and a small bag that turned out to contain a vintage camera lens he'd found at a Seoul flea market. The thoughtful gesture momentarily pushed aside her questions.
"This is incredible," she said, examining the lens. "How did you know I've been looking for this model?"
He smiled, pleased with himself. "You mentioned it that night we looked through your photography books. Said it created a particular quality of soft focus you couldn't replicate digitally."
The fact that he remembered such a specific detail from a casual conversation made her resolve waver. As they ate dinner, Taehyung enthusiastically described the producers he'd met with and the potential collaboration that could elevate his music to national recognition.
"So you were in Seoul," Y/N said finally, keeping her tone neutral.
Taehyung paused mid-sentence. "Yes. Didn't I tell you?"
"You said you were in studio lockdown."
"I was—their studio in Seoul." He frowned slightly. "Is something wrong?"
Y/N set down her fork. "Why not just say you were going to Seoul?"
Taehyung's expression shifted from confusion to understanding. "I didn't think it mattered. The point was I'd be unavailable, working intensely." He reached across the table for her hand. "I wasn't trying to hide anything, Y/N."
She wanted to believe him. It would be so easy to let it go, to accept his explanation and move forward. But something nagged at her—a sense that this small miscommunication represented something larger.
"I worry sometimes," she admitted, "that we're not fully present in each other's lives. That we're still operating as these independent entities who occasionally intersect, rather than..."
"Rather than what?" Taehyung asked softly.
Y/N met his gaze. "Rather than partners."
Taehyung was quiet for a long moment. "I've never been good at the conventional relationship things," he finally said. "Checking in, reporting my whereabouts. My mind doesn't work that way."
"I'm not asking for conventional," Y/N countered. "Just... consideration. Inclusion in your decisions when they affect us."
"Are we an 'us'?" His question wasn't challenging but genuinely curious.
The question hung between them, forcing Y/N to confront what she actually wanted. "I'd like to be," she said finally. "But only if you want that too."
Taehyung's eyes softened. He stood, pulling her up from her chair and into his arms. "I want you in my life, Y/N. However that looks." He kissed her forehead. "I'm not good at this, but I'll try. For you, I'll try."
She rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat and trying to quiet the small voice that wondered if trying would be enough.
---
The photography competition submission deadline approached rapidly. Y/N threw herself into preparing her entry—a series titled "Return," exploring the familiar-turned-strange quality of viewing childhood places through adult eyes. The work was her most personal yet, revealing vulnerabilities she usually kept hidden behind technical precision.
The night before the submission deadline, her phone rang near midnight. Taehyung's name flashed on the screen.
"Are you still working?" he asked without preamble when she answered.
"Just finishing the artist statement," Y/N said, rubbing her tired eyes.
"I'm outside your studio. Let me in?"
Surprised, Y/N went to the window and saw Taehyung standing on the sidewalk below, phone to his ear. She buzzed him in, and minutes later he appeared with coffee and a small bag from the bakery that had closed hours ago.
"How did you get these?" she asked, accepting the still-warm pastry gratefully.
"Namjoon's cousin owns the place. Called in a favor." Taehyung settled on the floor beside her desk, looking over the prints laid out for her final selection. "These are extraordinary, Y/N."
She sank down next to him, suddenly aware of how exhausted she was. "You think so? I've been staring at them so long I can't tell anymore."
"I know so." He pointed to a particular image—a playground shot through raindrops on a window, creating a dreamlike distortion. "This one especially. It captures something... nostalgic but uncomfortable. Like childhood memories that don't quite match reality."
Y/N leaned against him, touched by his understanding of what she'd been trying to convey. "That's exactly what I was going for."
Taehyung wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You're going to win, you know."
"There will be hundreds of entries from professionals with years more experience."
"Doesn't matter. Your perspective is unique." He kissed the top of her head. "Now, what can I do to help you finish?"
For the next two hours, Taehyung helped her organize the final submission—reading drafts of her artist statement, giving thoughtful feedback, handling the tedious technical requirements of the digital upload. When everything was finally submitted at 2:30 AM, Y/N felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
"Thank you," she said, curling into him on the small studio couch. "I didn't expect you to show up tonight."
"You mentioned yesterday that the deadline was stressing you out," he replied simply. "I wanted to help."
In that moment, all her doubts seemed ridiculous. This was Taehyung—inconsistent in small ways perhaps, but present when it truly mattered. She fell asleep against his chest, more content than she'd been in weeks.
---
The competition results wouldn't be announced for another month, but life didn't pause in the meantime. Y/N's client list grew as word spread about her work, and she found herself busy with everything from engagement shoots to commercial product photography for local businesses.
Taehyung received the news he'd been hoping for—the Seoul producers wanted to sign him for a project that could launch his music nationally. The opportunity would require extended time in Seoul, starting with a three-week trip to negotiate terms and begin initial recording.
"Come with me," he suggested as they discussed the logistics in her studio one evening. "You could photograph the city. Make connections there."
The invitation was tempting—three uninterrupted weeks with Taehyung, exploring a new city together. But Y/N had just established her studio, had commitments to local clients.
"I can't right now," she said regretfully. "But maybe I could visit for a weekend? Once you're settled?"
Taehyung nodded, trying to hide his disappointment. "Of course. That makes sense."
The night before his departure, they stayed up until dawn, talking about everything and nothing, making plans for video calls and his return visit. When Y/N drove him to the train station, their goodbye kiss held the bittersweet quality of a milestone—their first real separation since reconnecting.
Y/N nodded, not trusting herself to speak. As she watched his train pull away, a complicated mix of emotions settled in her chest—pride in his success, sadness at his absence, and a tiny, unwelcome thread of relief at having some space to think clearly about their whirlwind reconnection.
---
The first week of Taehyung's absence passed in a productive blur. Y/N channeled her emotional energy into work, extending her studio hours and taking on additional clients. Their nightly video calls maintained their connection, though the time difference and Taehyung's busy schedule sometimes reduced these to brief check-ins rather than the deep conversations she craved.
On Friday evening, exhausted from a day of shooting, Y/N was closing her studio when she noticed water seeping under the door. Following the trail, she discovered a burst pipe in the small bathroom, water rapidly pooling on the hardwood floors perilously close to her equipment.
Panic rising, she called Yoongi, who didn't answer, then the building's emergency number, which went to voicemail. Without thinking, she called Jimin.
"I'll be there in ten minutes," he said immediately upon hearing the situation. "Try to move your equipment to higher ground. I'll bring supplies."
True to his word, Jimin arrived quickly, armed with towels, a shop vacuum, and basic plumbing tools. Together they worked to contain the damage—Jimin shutting off the water main while Y/N moved her valuable equipment to safety.
An hour later, the emergency had been mitigated. The pipe was temporarily patched, the water cleaned up, and fans positioned to dry the floors. Y/N collapsed onto her couch, adrenaline giving way to exhaustion.
"Thank you," she said fervently. "I would have been lost without you."
Jimin shrugged, wiping his hands on a towel. "That's what friends are for."
"Friends don't usually know basic plumbing repair," Y/N pointed out.
"YouTube tutorial from when my apartment flooded last year," he admitted with a grin. "Never thought I'd actually use that knowledge."
Y/N laughed, then noticed a cut on his hand. "You're hurt."
"It's nothing," Jimin dismissed, but allowed her to examine it.
"Let me clean this at least," she insisted, retrieving her first aid kit.
As she tended to his cut, a comfortable silence fell between them—the easy companionship they'd always shared, untainted by the recent complications. Y/N realized how much she'd missed this uncomplicated connection.
"Have you heard from Taehyung?" Jimin asked, breaking the silence.
"Brief calls. He's really busy with the producers." Y/N secured a bandage around his hand. "It's a big opportunity."
Jimin nodded. "He's always been meant for bigger stages."
Something in his tone made Y/N look up. "What do you mean?"
Jimin seemed to choose his words carefully. "Taehyung's talent deserves recognition. But his life has always been about pursuing the next opportunity, the next creative high." He met her eyes. "I've just worried what that means for people who want consistency from him."
Y/N felt a defensive response rise in her throat, then subside as she recognized the truth in Jimin's words. "He's trying," she said quietly.
"I know he is." Jimin's expression was gentle. "And I know you love him. I just..." He hesitated. "I want you to be loved the way you deserve."
The weight of unspoken feelings hung in the air between them. Y/N suddenly found it difficult to breathe.
"Jimin—"
"Don't," he interrupted softly. "I shouldn't have said anything. It's not my place."
But something had shifted in the room—a door opened that couldn't be closed again. Y/N found herself moving closer to him, drawn by the certainty of his presence, the steadiness he'd always represented in her life.
"It is your place," she whispered. "You've always had a place in my life, Jimin."
His eyes searched hers, vulnerable and hopeful in a way that made her heart ache. Slowly, giving her every opportunity to pull away, Jimin leaned forward until his lips met hers in a kiss so tender it brought tears to her eyes.
Unlike the passionate whirlwind of her kisses with Taehyung, this was gentle, unhurried—a conversation rather than a declaration. Y/N found herself responding, her hand coming up to cup his cheek.
When they finally separated, Jimin pressed his forehead against hers, eyes closed. "I've wanted to do that for so long," he admitted, voice barely audible.
Reality crashed back, bringing with it a wave of guilt. Y/N pulled away slightly. "Jimin, I'm with Taehyung."
Pain flashed across his features before he nodded. "I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—"
"No," Y/N interrupted. "I'm the one who should be sorry. This isn't fair to you. Or to him."
Jimin stood, creating space between them. "You should call him," he said quietly. "Talk to him."
The practical suggestion, so characteristic of Jimin—putting her needs first even when it hurt him—made Y/N's chest tighten with conflicted emotion.
"I need to figure out what I want," she said honestly.
"I think you already know," Jimin replied with a sad smile. "You've always known." He gathered his tools. "I'll check on the pipe tomorrow. Make sure it's holding."
After he left, Y/N sat in her quiet studio, mind reeling. Her phone showed a missed call from Taehyung and a text: Can't talk tonight. Big breakthrough with the producers. Call tomorrow? Miss you.
She stared at the message, feeling further from certainty than ever before.
---
The regional photography competition judging day arrived amid this emotional turbulence. Y/N had almost forgotten about it until Jimin texted that morning: Good luck today. Your work deserves recognition.
No mention of the kiss, no pressure—just support, as always. Y/N hadn't seen him since that night, both of them creating distance to think. She hadn't told Taehyung about the kiss either, unsure how to navigate the confession over video calls and text messages.
The competition was held at the central library's exhibition hall. Y/N arrived early, nervously checking her appearance before entering the crowded space. Photographs from all entrants lined the walls, grouped by theme interpretation. She found her series displayed prominently in a well-lit corner, which she took as a positive sign.
As she examined the other entries, Y/N was struck by the quality of the competition—powerful images telling compelling stories. Her confidence wavered slightly as she realized how many talented photographers had entered.
"Intimidating, isn't it?" said a familiar voice behind her.
Y/N turned to find Jungkook, the photographer from the Harbor Gallery, examining a dramatic landscape series.
"The talent level is higher than I expected," she admitted.
Jungkook nodded. "Regional competitions often are. The truly ambitious ones skipped straight to national contests, leaving space for thoughtful work rather than technical showboating."
Y/N studied him curiously. She'd seen his byline on the gallery article—a thoughtful piece that had given her work more consideration than she'd expected—but hadn't crossed paths with him since.
"Do you enter these competitions?" she asked.
"Sometimes." He gestured to a striking series of industrial landscapes on the adjacent wall. "When I have something worth saying."
Before Y/N could respond, an announcement called for all entrants to gather for the judges' introduction. She excused herself, joining the nervous crowd of photographers.
The head judge, a renowned photojournalist named Park Seojoon, spoke briefly about the competition's purpose before introducing the judging panel. Y/N's attention sharpened when he mentioned the final judge—a last-minute addition to the panel.
"And finally, we're grateful to have Jeon Jungkook joining us, representing East Coast Arts Monthly and bringing his unique perspective on visual narrative."
Y/N turned in surprise to see Jungkook taking his place at the judges' table. He caught her eye briefly, his expression professional and unreadable.
The judging process would take several hours, with results announced that afternoon. Photographers were encouraged to stay and network, or return later for the announcement.
Y/N decided to remain, using the opportunity to study the competing work and connect with other local artists. Throughout the day, she occasionally noticed Jungkook with the other judges, moving methodically through the exhibition, engaged in serious discussion about various pieces. His demeanor was focused and analytical—clearly taking the responsibility seriously.
By late afternoon, the judges had made their decisions. Park Seojoon took the microphone again, thanking everyone for their patience.
"Photography is subjective," he began. "What moves one person may leave another cold. What we look for is work that challenges perspective, that makes the viewer see differently."
He announced the honorable mentions first, then third place, then second. Y/N's name hadn't been called, and she felt a complicated mix of disappointment and relief. At least she could leave without the awkwardness of accepting an award from a panel that included someone she barely knew.
"And our first place winner," Park Seojoon continued, "for a series that eloquently captures the dissonance between memory and reality, the winner of the Perspective Shift Photography Competition is Y/N, for the series 'Return.'"
The room erupted in applause. Y/N stood frozen in shock before making her way to the front. Park Seojoon handed her an elegant crystal award and an envelope containing details about her feature in East Coast Arts Monthly.
"The judges were particularly moved by your ability to create images that feel simultaneously familiar and unsettling," he explained. "Your work invites viewers to reconsider their relationship with nostalgia."
As Y/N shook hands with each judge, Jungkook's grip was firm and professional. "Congratulations," he said simply, no hint of their earlier conversation in his formal tone.
After the ceremony, as photographers and attendees mingled over refreshments, Y/N found herself approached by various gallery owners and potential clients. The win had immediately raised her profile in the regional arts community.
She was speaking with an arts council representative when her phone vibrated with a call from Taehyung. With a pang of guilt, she realized she hadn't told him about the competition today.
"Excuse me," she said to the representative. "I need to take this."
Finding a quiet corner, she answered, "Taehyung, hi."
"Y/N!" His voice was excited. "I've got incredible news. The producers want to extend the project. They're offering a six-month contract with potential for a permanent position afterward."
"Six months?" Y/N echoed, struggling to process the implications.
"It's what I've been working toward for years," Taehyung continued. "National distribution, creative control, resources to bring my music to life properly."
"That's... amazing, Tae. Congratulations." The words felt hollow in her mouth.
"There's more," he said, either not noticing or ignoring her hesitation. "They have connections with major photography publications here. I mentioned your work, and they're interested. This could be huge for both of us."
The offer hung between them—unspoken but clear. Come to Seoul. Choose this path. Choose me.
"I won a photography competition today," Y/N said abruptly. "Regional one. My work's going to be featured in East Coast Arts Monthly."
"What? Y/N, that's incredible!" Taehyung's genuine enthusiasm made her chest tight. "Why didn't you tell me it was today?"
"You've been busy," she said simply. "And I wasn't sure I'd win."
"But you did," Taehyung said proudly. "I knew you would. We should celebrate when I'm back next week."
"About that..." Y/N took a deep breath. "I think we need to talk, Tae. About us. About the future."
A pause, then his voice, more subdued: "Because of the Seoul opportunity?"
"Because of a lot of things."
Another silence stretched between them. "I understand," Taehyung finally said. "We'll talk when I'm back. Properly."
After they disconnected, Y/N stood motionless, staring at her phone. The competition win, which should have been a moment of pure triumph, now felt complicated by the looming conversation with Taehyung and her unresolved feelings for Jimin.
As she prepared to leave, she noticed Jungkook gathering his belongings at the judges' table.
"Congratulations again," he said as she approached. "Your series was the clear winner."
"Thank you," Y/N replied. "I was surprised to see you on the judging panel."
"Last-minute replacement." He shrugged. "Someone from the magazine had to be here, and I know the local scene."
Y/N nodded, suddenly curious. "Can I ask—what made my series stand out to you, specifically?"
Jungkook considered the question seriously. "Most photographers trying to capture nostalgia focus on making things look better than they were—golden light, soft focus, idealized compositions." He met her gaze directly. "You did the opposite. You showed the discomfort of return—how nothing quite fits anymore, how memory distorts, how growth changes perspective."
The insight struck Y/N deeply. He had articulated something she'd felt but hadn't fully formulated herself.
"Thank you," she said again, with more meaning. "That's... perceptive."
Jungkook gave a small nod. "Someone from the magazine will be in touch about the feature." He hesitated, then added, "If you have questions about the national photography scene, feel free to reach out. I work with publications beyond the regional level."
With that, he excused himself, leaving Y/N with his business card and the strange feeling that the day had shifted something fundamental in her path forward.
Later that evening, alone in her apartment with her award on the coffee table, Y/N's phone lit up with a text from Jimin: Heard about your win from Hoseok. So proud of you. Always knew your vision was special.
She traced her fingers over the words, heart aching with the complexity of her feelings. On her laptop screen, open flight searches to Seoul waited for a decision. The crystal award caught the last light of day, fracturing it into patterns across her walls—beautiful but impossible to hold onto.
Summary: being friends for 10 years means nothing, especially when he betrays your trust so easily.
Pairings: Jungkook x reader ; Taehyung x reader
Genre: angst, fluff, friends to (?)
Warnings: Taehyung + oc intimidate moments (somewhat); Confused Taehyung; Oc being a mess and indecisive; JUNGKOOK!!!
Authors note: I feel like this might be too short…
masterlist | 01 | 02 | tba
“I can’t believe that- that jerk!” You spit out in disgust. Your body from head to toes, was filled with anger and disillusionment. He hasn’t changed, will he ever?
“Well believe it” Taehyung continues on from your rant. He had the right to feel frustrated. But it wasn’t about the little shove that Jungkook had given him. Rather it was the fact that Jungkook hurt you. He hurt you with his words, and actions. He had hurt you, when you were most vulnerable. And Taehyung didn’t prevent that from happening either.
“I’m sorry” Taehyung’s voice cracks, while shifting on the couch. He covers his face by pulling down his hoodie. He couldn’t bear the idea of you being in any state that wasn’t happy. He knew you were in pain, and yet here you were trying to console him.
“What- what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing” He responds.
But if everything was alright, why was he sniffing? And why did his voice crack? He also wasn’t showing his face. Everything was just not alright. So, why couldn't he be honest? Maybe you were just a horrible friend to everyone, so they don’t trust you enough to be vulnerable. After all that’s what Jungkook does to you, he pushes you aside.
“I understand if you don’t want to talk or need space. But just know that I’m here for you, always and forever”
“Always and forever?” Taehyung pulls the hoodie away, so you can get a clearer view of him, and vice versa. His eyes were the first thing you noticed. They were puffy, and red. He looked disappointed and tired? Maybe it wasn’t that but that’s what you got from the first glance.
“Yes, of course” your eyebrows furrow, while you hold his hand. They were freezing cold. It felt as if he was stuck in a freezer or had just taken a bath with only ice in the tub. It instantly made you feel chills over your body.
“I think I have something to keep you warm”
You frantically search up and down, left and right all over your small apartment and try to find anything to make him warmer.
He notices the lines above your eyebrows, and the way you run around in circles, sometimes hitting yourself, just to find him something and he gently smiles. He sees you’re worried about him, and he understands it’s because you feel guilty, but he’s just going to pretend it’s because you care about him. At least in the way he cares about you.
“I can’t find anything!” You toss the socks you had just picked up a second ago, when you thought it was a good idea to use socks as gloves.
“Why don’t you just hold my hand?” Taehyung partially jokes. But to his surprise, he doesn’t see you refuse his proposal, in fact he sees you shrug, and stare towards him.
“I-I was just- you know, joking” he trips over his words, and he sees you softly laugh. Instantly he feels more relieved and excited.
“Well what if I actually wanted to do it”
Your large innocent-looking eyes reeled him in. His jaw was hanging low, as salvia was about to come out.
“I would gladly accept that offer” he cleared his throat, while making space for you. He patted the spot for you to continue walking towards him. He was beginning to look stiff and awkward. He was sitting up straight, and kept looking in front of him.
“Are you always this nervous?” you giggled, while staring at his sitting position.
He looked like he was in trouble, or in detention. It was quite a funny scene for you. But you caught a glimpse of his elbow, and you were back to feeling a heavy amount of guilt on your chest.
“Does it hurt” You softly place your hand on his arm, and leave enough space to not touch the scraped area.
He looks up to you, and swears he could feel his heartbeat in his head. You looked beautiful, has he mentioned that today? Maybe he hasn’t, especially since it’s been hectic but still he should have. Because you did, look beautiful that is.
“No. Not as much anymore”
You immediately felt butterflies, they were all flying around in your stomach. There was no other explanation for feeling the way you were now. He looked really good, but his soft plump lips made you want to get closer. You kept glancing at him and then his lips. You weren’t sure if you were being obvious, but you couldn’t hide it either.
“I- I’m glad” you managed to answer, staring at this perfect man in front of you.
“Yeah me too”
It was his turn to bounce from staring at you, and then your lips. They looked soft and homely. They kept telling him ‘kiss me’ without having said a single word.
He wasn’t sure of doing what he wanted to do, so instead he decided to take things at a slower pace. “Hey, I know this sounds ridiculous after the night we had but do you want to go eat something?”
What he had initially wanted to say was, ‘would you like to go on a date with me’ but it’s clear to him, or frankly anyone that he isn’t Jungkook, that you were madly and utterly in love with him. Why? Well, he wasn’t so sure of it himself. Jungkook was an ass so why did you fall for him and not Taehyung?
“I would love nothing more” you blushed before, during and after you replied.
Taehyung tucked his lower lip behind his upper lip, and nodded his head before getting up, reaching out his hand to not only lift you up, but to make sure you have the best day of your life. This was the only opportunity he’s had to just be you and him, and he was planning to use it.
“I can’t believe you let me walk out of my apartment looking like this?”
You had a crop top that said ‘bite me’ and some Christmas pjs. Thankfully Taehyung gave you his sweater, so now you could at least zip it up, and cover at least one uncomfortable and ugly clothing.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! You look better than anyone else here” he compliments while pushing your chair back and then forwards, allowing you to smoothly sit an inch closer to the table without having moved a muscle.
“Okay, now you’re being too nice” you slouch to cover your flattered self.
He shakes his head as a no. “You’re just not seeing what I am”
“Well what do you see?” you respond, while fixing your posture feeling uneducated, compared to him and the other people in that restaurant.
“Hmm… I see” he points at myself, emphasizing that it’s his own opinion. “I see a drop-dead gorgeous, head-turning, strong, and alluring woman”
When he said all those beautiful things to describe you and the manner he said it, it made you want to cry. You felt noticed and it sounds stupid but you haven’t received that since, well ever. It’s these exact words that made you even more confused.
But then again, he is your friend. So, he’s probably saying all this because you’re clearly upset about everything that went down and how it went down.
“You’re only saying that cause you’re my friend” you emphasize in your gloomy state. You don’t even pick up your fry, you play with it and you’re aware of how you’re looking right now, but you don’t have the energy to hide how you feel.
“Well I don’t lie to my friends. Especially if they mean to me a lot like.. you” he holds an intense gaze, while admiring the freckle beside your nose. He always called it your beauty mark.
He couldn’t grasp how vulnerable you were being right now, he was afraid of breaking or hurting you even more. He didn’t want to push you, but he also didn’t want to make you feel unnoticed. He knew you’d like the extra attention, but not in a superficial way. It was more of a ‘can you see me for me’ way.
He wanted to reach over and give you the biggest hug or shoulder rub. But he just knew deep down, you’d hate that because you’d break down that instant and you hated nothing more than to be the center of attention.
“I really do appreciate you Taehyung” you couldn’t smile nor show it on your face, just truly how grateful you were. But you had hoped that he understood where you were coming from.
He simply sends you an endearing smile, and it felt like he sent a hug your way, the way it embraced you and made you feel better.
You eventually decide that it’s time for you to suck it up, and eat the damn fry that’s beginning to get cold. You even lift it up and place it in front of Taehyung’s mouth so he could take a bite. But before he could take a bite, you move it and eat it instead.
“Hey! You tricked me!”
You laugh and snort altogether. He really had this spark and talent to make you feel comfortable. That’s what you loved about him, whenever you were in his presence, your mood was automatically lifted, whether you realized it or not.
“Okay but you complained your outfit when I’m literally in swim trunks”
You both laughed along your silly, dumb jokes. You never realized how truly comforting Taehyung’s presence was until today. He instantly lifted up your bad spirit, and you could not ever repay him for making you feel loved and important.
“At least you look handsome” you comment, while shifting your head towards the other side.
“ You think so?” He scoffs, while reexamining his outfit. His pink swim trunk shorts, with a yellow baggy t-shirt.
“Yes!” You answer, but it sounded more like you were questioning him. In a way you were, how could he not know all these things about him.
He began covering his face with the napkin that was once placed on the table. But you could still see the red tint on his cheeks, and that shortly led you to also have the same or darker red cheeks.
This was perfect. He was perfect. You couldn’t have imagined any other way to end your night, especially after the day you had. You were glad to have accepted Taehyung’s offer to come out and eat. You stare at him, and try to fight the smile that wants to sprout.
It wasn’t until you heard a familiar deep voice shout, that you realized that happiness is only limited.
“Just great! I have the traitor and loser right in front of me”
“Jungkook?!”
You see him walking away. You look back at Taehyung, he nods his head and points towards him. He knew you wanted nothing more than to go after him and who was he to stop you? No one. He wasn’t important to you. Or not like Jungkook was.
“I’ll call you, okay?”
Again he nods his head, and glances around for a waiter, to ask for a to go box. He even packed your things, in case your talk with Jungkook ended horribly.
He knew it would hurt. But he also knew you were worth the pain.
The tears and cries that have been wanting to escape your very drained eyes, were beginning to be released. You had kept them under lock and key, by blinking every single one away when it started to feel wetter than usual. That was the thing about Jungkook, he always pushed you to tears.
“Jungkook! Wait up!” You utter a loud, piercing cry.
You run after him and in the process of doing so, you wonder why you were foolishly running after someone who does not want to be caught. Instead of staying beside someone who will only ever run towards you.
But it was too late now. The damage was done, so you had no other choice but to keep chasing after Jungkook. And when you have the slight advantage of being close enough to grab him arm, you do. However, once you do. He immediately pulls away, and slightly pushes you in the process.
“What do you want?” he growls, as his ice-cold eyes look directly into your very skull.
You were afraid. Afraid of being open to him, and instantly being shut down. But you had no other choice, you were going to finally be honest and how he took it was not your fault.
“You to listen to me”
You stood your ground. You forbid yourself from allowing him to see you in the state he has left you, broken.
“Why don’t you go back to him. He’s clearly the one for you” he begins screaming like some insane person and it didn’t make sense to you.
“What are you talking about?! He’s a great friend of mine, and because of me he’s hurt”
“Don’t. I’m the one who shoved him not you” he says it in a gentler tone, and you know it was his way to reassure you, that you were in fact not at fault.
Deep down you know it’s not your fault, but there is also a part of you that continually blames you for involving Taehyung. If you had kept your mouth shut, if you had just stopped being a baby, Taehyung would not have been hurt. So maybe you are at fault. The more you think about it you realize you’re the problem.
“Yeah but he got shoved because he was trying to protect me”
“Protect you?! From what, me?!”
You didn’t respond verbally, but you looked away. He immediately knew the answer to his question. It was your tell, when someone asked something, and you looked away, you were either hiding something, or afraid to speak up.
Jungkook’s nostrils flared as he stared at you. He couldn’t believe you’d think even for a second that he would hurt you. Your heart raced in your chest as you looked at Jungkook and took a step backwards.
“You think I'd hurt you? like really hurt you?” he whispers.
His voice cracked, and you felt like you needed to look up into his eyes. They were glossy, and you knew he was sad. You were stupid, you should have kept your mouth shut. You should have just dealt with the pain yourself. Or maybe you should have approached things differently. It was too late now, but then again you had finally voiced all those doubts and feelings. It wasn’t fair for you to deal with pain all alone. You don’t know, this is all messed up.
He begins to slowly walk towards you, and you feel like you have to stay in place. He places his hands on your ears, to get a better grip of you. He reaches down and connects your foreheads, your nose is pressed against each other, and your lips slightly touch. You both were breathing heavily, and it felt like you hadn’t seen each other, it felt like you were separated for years. You needed to feel his lips, you wanted to know what it felt like kissing him. He wanted that too, he really did. But then you said something, something that shattered him into the smallest of pieces.
“I don’t know”
You attempt to kiss him, but once you do, he pushes you away.
“Don’t. Please don’t”
And with that he walked away. You saw his figure getting smaller, and further away. It could also be the tears that built up the minute he moved away from you. You were close, you were about to kiss and you had to ruin it. You ruin everything. But maybe it’s better that way, afterall why would you kiss someone that doesn’t love you back. Why would you want someone who chooses to leave? Why would you kiss someone that hurts you?
Warnings: This story will mention blood, death, sexually explicit scenes and chapters. The story will also cover harder topics, warnings will be included in those chapters.
Summary: She thinks she is not good enough for him. She thinks she has nothing to offer. But she doesn't know she is all he wants. But why?
Pairing: idol!Hoseok x Staff!Reader
Genre: Angst, Fluff, a very very little bit of smut, Hoseok is a bit obsessed.
Wordcount: 4.8k
a/n: This is my very first ff and I do not know anything. Forgive me for the mistakes and tell me how to be better.
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"what?" I exclaimed for the second time in 2 minutes, obviously because whatever I was hearing wasn't making sense at all. "But what's the need for me there?" I asked the manager again clearly not understanding why I was being escorted to the party that wasn't my place to be.
Jhope, Jung Hoseok, was throwing his grand glam party for his second solo album "Jack out of the box''s release and it was huge to say the least. Almost the entire Kpop industry was there. The top floor of the hybe building was then holding more wealth than some of the small countries. As expected, staff not having any direct connection with the album production weren't allowed to go even near the top floor today. I was certainly one of the uninvited ones. That was at least what I knew until Hoseok's manager came to escort me to the party.
"Why is she being invited there when we're not even allowed to step near the floor? Just because she's an army?" Sooah, one of my teammates almost cried with pure jealousy laced in her voice. Well, it's not that I don't know the answer. I do, just don't wanna admit cause it all feels like a dream. There were some sort of things going on between hobi and Me. No, we weren't in a relationship. It was somewhat complicated.
I was in the army and all of the seven adored me because of that. They never had a dedicated army among their staff ever before. After having me they literally started to treat me as if I represent the entire fandom. It's quite understandable because they were always so curious to know why the armys are more interested in their thighs than their faces (just joking).
However, for me it was quite different. Getting to know them was a blessing. I got to know that they were even better personally but they live a very different life. I realized quickly that my love for Jung Hoseok was better to be cherished as a normal Fan-idol thing because my intensity would only make my heart break. And it did, it broke more and more every time I realized I am not perfect for Hoseok, I can never be. Obviously, he was the global star, BTS's Jung Hoseok and I was Y/N, a normal and very very ordinary girl with nothing to rock people off of their socks.
But apparently Hoseok thought differently. Ever since I got drunk after a late night emergency meeting and blabbered the shit out to him about loving him so fucking much, he decided I am the one for him. God knows why. Whenever I try to tell him that he and I can't work, he seems to get more and more determined. This has been going on for some months. I have tried to tell him that this job is my dream and it's precious. I can't get fired and if I do, there's no way I'm getting another job in this kpop industry because by then I'll be known as the staff that "seduces the idols". I love him but I have to live, I have parents to support.
But it seems like he is adamant to make things work between him and me. As much as it flutters my heart, it scares me as well. What if the higher ups catch it all? What if they rule me out of my dream project of Weverse magazine? What if they ask me to quit? What if I end up returning home! No no! Not a chance. I have to stay professional. Only if I wasn't a hybe staff, I would gladly accept his offer and would be already deciding upon our children's names. But no. I can't. Moreover, one thing I have understood, this glam life, fame, and attention aren't for me. It's all too complicated for me. I am better with my simple life. Now that I am done seeing Bangtan up close, and telling Hobi how much I love him, I can look forward and find a man to love and to be loved and settle down.
However, Jung Hoseok won't let me.
He had a different plan all along. He had a different plan when he dragged me into the empty copy room after seeing me giggling with one of male colleagues at the company cafeteria. He slammed me on the wall, whispered "You're mine" in my ears and pressed his lips on mine with such passion. Kinda possessive right? The only thing that his action did was make me fall for him even more. Making my strong-girl-pretense harder than ever.
Only if my higher ups knew that I have been locking my lips with one of their biggest assets behind their backs then I'm sure, I was nowhere to be found in the company or maybe in the country, who knows.
Back to the present, I still can't believe Hobi really wants me to be there in the party, when he clearly knows that I can't socialize, not even with people of my stature, and guests of his party were everything beyond my league.
"It is his order Y/N and you know he can be really stubborn at times" his manager said. Well, who knows it better than me at this point. I knew there was no benefit of revolting to the manager. I need to call the mastermind. Excusing myself from them I went away to call Hobi. He received the third ring. "Hey, when are you coming? Why aren't you here yet? It has been almost 10 minutes since manager hyung left." Hoseok was very excited, I didn't even know why!" I started to put down my words carefully. "Hobi, you know I am not a great fan of parties and more specifically a party like yours. I am just a very big misfit there. I am sorry but I don't think I should..." "You're coming Y/N, if you don't want manager hyung to escort you then I myself will go and I am serious about it." His voice was demanding, authoritative even. I knew he was capable of leaving the party to take me with him and that would cause unnecessary drama, so I had to give in.
I stepped into the party and it was a world itself. A world that knows nothing other than Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Balenciaga and I couldn't feel more self-conscious in my $20 zip up hoodie and a pair of loose fit ripped jeans. At this point I was sure, people would not hesitate to think that I am in charge of cleaning services. I spotted the man immediately. He is called sunshine for nothing. So glamorous and beautiful with the aura that he wears, everyone buzzed around him like bees buzz around the most aromatic flowers. I felt so small there that I wanted to run away. And I decided that I would after meeting him, telling him that I kept his request, oh well, his order.
My reverie was broken with a honey dripping voice that I can recognise even in my unconscious mind. "Hey, Y/N" Jin said, walking up to me and my smile reached my eyes. "Oppa!" I was about to jump on him. "Why do you look like you wanna run away?" He asked. "Because that's exactly what I wanna do, Oppa. You know that I am nothing but a misfit here. I really did not want to be here but Hobi won't listen to anything." He smiled, and I melted. "Y/N you know that you're special to him and on his special day he just wants to keep his special person by his side. But I understand your point too. Why don't you talk to him? Tell him how you're feeling here?" Jin completed. I sighed, "I want to talk to him but he is busy, which is natural."
"What's the tea?" The man of the night was now standing just behind me, "what are you two talking about without me?" "We were just talking about you Hoba." Jin said, "Now I'll leave the two of you alone and meet some people. Enjoy the night Y/N" with that he left with a wink. And within an instant, I felt myself being dragged by my arm to a room, which seemed to be the storage for the drinks and food for the night.
And here I am again, pressed against another wall, the man towering over me looking at me as if he will devour me then and there. "I know Jin hyung is your bias wrecker or whatever you say. But you should remember that I am the main character. I am your main character." His tone was kinda sultry but I wasn't the one to show that he intimated me easily, so I threw my counter attack. Teasing him a bit I said, "So you're now jealous of your hyung? That's a shame". I didn't expect him to agree but he did and said, "oh, hell I am. And you know what? I should mark you as mine. Everyone should know you belong to me or at least belong to someone already. What do you say baby?" I didn't get what he was saying, "what do yo---" and I was cut off since my lips were attacked by his ever waiting one. I obviously didn't waste my time in kissing him back but in the midway I felt my arms being pinned over my head as he attacked my neck in the purpose of sucking a bruise. I understood his assignment now. As if I wasn't already ashamed of showing up here wearing E-mark Sunday market clothes that he had to increase it more by giving me hickies. "Hobi please no!" I protested but it was of no use. He kept on sucking my sweet spot while I wiggled as much as I could. His lips left my skin once he was satisfied enough. He pulled his head up and looked deep into my eyes, while I did the same. His low voice ringed, "now you're marked and anyone that approaches you here should be shown that. Understood?" I gulped and before I could reply anything his phone vibrated signaling that he was gone for a bit too longer than he should.
We both left the storage room one by one interval by interval to dodge suspicion. Once I was out, he was nowhere to be seen. More like, he was at his own place, dancing and mingling with some of the goddess looking ladies. I couldn't help feeling a bitter feeling inside of me. And I stood there alone, like the low-class introvert that I was, watching others like I'm watching a TV, close to my eyes but far from touch. The more I watched him that night, the more I realized, he and I are from two different worlds, and these worlds can't collide. They should remain at their places for the peace of the universe.
I was deep in my thoughts and my eyes were almost glassy with the impact, when another known voice approached me. "Y/N!! Did not expect to see you here! What's up?``said Lee Sung hoon, one of the graphics designers, hybe always works with. We have worked with him during some of our Weverse magazine projects. He is also in the team that worked for Hobi's album this time, so even if he didn't expect to meet me there, I expected. And now I was embarrassed by his question. I parted my lips to reply but didn't know what to say, "I -uh". He cut me off, "oh well, it's dumb of me to ask you the question, since we all know you're close with the boys. So, I am sure you're here as part of the guest list." "Well, yeah, kinda" I replied. It was both fortunate and unfortunate that I found him there. Fortune because I stopped feeling way too out of place and lonely. Unfortunate because I then had to reply to all of his flirtatious remarks that he has been throwing to me since the day we met.
We were talking about something which gradually landed in Hoseok. Sung Hoon said, "He is the life of the party. Isn't he? I mean, Man look at him, all the ladies are going crazy even the older ones too. " I smiled and nodded. "You too have a crush on him, I know," he added. "Is it news? The entire company knows he is the reason why I am still single." I replied. Sung hoon was quick this time, "yeah, I know I know but don't you think you're wasting your time and your youth?". I questioned him, "What do you mean?" He continued, "Look at him Y/N, he is the Jung Hoseok! The richest member of the biggest boy band of this world. One of the major shareholders of the company itself. There are female idols dying to get into his pants. No, I am not saying that he is out of your league but at the same time I am saying it, you will only get yourself hurt. He is like a dream to people like us. They can only be polite to us but they can never love us back. That's the reality." All of it hit me hard and he continued, "I have seen you looking at him as If he has star casted in his body. So I am worried for you. As a senior in this industry, I would suggest you refrain yourself from falling for an idol. They will entertain your idea but they won't return your feelings. They will just use you as a thrill, the thrill of having the forbidden fruit but nothing more." Was it all I was to hobi? A forbidden fruit?
Thinking about it then I realized that Hoseok has never said that he liked me or he felt anything for me. His weird affection suddenly started and then I found him saying I belong to him and nothing else. Never did he say that he liked me but he claimed my lips with every chance he got. Now that I could think about it, all the clouds seemed to be in a silver lining. To him I was just a thrill, which was just a purpose of free entertainment. He could never love to be back or at least like me cause I don't reach upto his standard. Finally it felt like I understood the deal and I couldn't take it anymore. I was just staring at the ground, desperately blinking my tears away. I couldn't hear a word sung hoon said. I finally pulled my head up and looked at sung hoon. "I will leave now Mr. Lee, it's getting late and I may miss the bus. Enjoy the party." Saying that I turned my heels to walk away but he called me back, "Y/N wait! Let me drive you home. It's pretty late anyway." "No, no! The buses are still available I can manage." I smiled at him but he looked at me being determined. "Have you even eaten anything yet? I don't think you did. Let's get outta here. I am quite bored as well. Let's grab dinner at the snack bar and then I'll drive you home. What do you say?" He offered. I wanted to be alone but at the same time I didn't want loneliness to devour me. So I accepted his offer and left the party with him.
Hoseok's side:
The man was very busy today, after all it's his listening party and he had high profile guests to attend. But his heart was with that one person. His heart left his body in the store room. One song played after another to let the guests hear those exclusively. But all he was waiting for was that one song. The one that he wrote for her and added to the album at the very last minute. It was the night when she let out her drunken confession, he found himself looking at the stars from his balcony. The lyrics came into his mind when he thought of her face, her lips, her eyes, which held so much love for him. The love he never found in anyone else ever before. And finally today he was going to play The song. He planned it all. He planned to be in front of her when the song would play, he planned to look deep into her eyes and tell all the things he couldn't. He will do it tonight. Just two more songs before the party ends, before that one song played, he had to find her.
Hoseok looked for her but there wasn't any sign of her. He was clearly stressed and angry when he couldn't find her. He proceeded towards the exit and enquired the guard, "Have you seen Y/N? Did she leave?" The guard replied in positive and his anger now reached to the peak. "Did she leave alone?" He enquired again. "No sir, Mr. Lee was with her. They left 8 minutes ago approximately." Okay! So she left with the guy who just finds the opportunity of getting her in the bed? He was so mad, so mad! He would punish her well this time. Without thinking much he exited the party. He went out of the back entrance as fast as he could, he wanted to catch her on the way and pull her back to the party. He went to the parking area but he saw sung hoon's car still parked, knowing it was his car from the name plate attached to the car for emergency contact purposes. He rushed out of the parking lot and got in the street and he could already see his beloved giggling with sung hoon sitting in the coffee shop just across the street through the glass walls. He wanted to punish her, he promised himself he would punish her but right now he needed to be at the party. He returned and asked the dj to skip the last song, he said it should be kept as a surprise track.
They say acceptance is the key to happiness. But to me it was the key to the dam of my tears, they kept on flowing. It was past 1 am and I kept on crying since I arrived at home. No, I didn't expect him to make me his girlfriend or anything then why did it hurt so bad? Why did the idea of Hobi just playing with my feelings tear my heart like a paper? I stared at the patterns that my mood lamp drew at my ceiling and my silent tears made their way to my pillow. It was about 10 past 1 when the doorbell rang, making me startled. There was no way I could have a visitor this late at night. Then who could it be? I was so afraid. What if it's a robber or a sick rapist? A lot of people know that I live alone! What if it's a stalker? Another round of impatient boor bells rang. I gained some courage to finally open up the door. Turning on the lights of the drawing room I held the door knob of my 1bhk apartment. My senses left me making me dumb enough not to take a look through the peeping hole. A grasp left my lips upon opening the door, seeing Hoseok standing there with dark eyes.
"Hobi? What are you doing here at this hour?" I asked him in confusion. Well truth to be told, I knew why he was here probably but I was confused why didn't he call me first to know why I left the party. To be honest, it hurt me more when I didn't receive a single call from him which led me towards strengthening the ground of my assumptions. "Why? Did you expect someone else at this hour?" His voice was low but he almost growled and I knew he was super mad at me. "No, I mean, come in '' I asked him to enter my embarrassing home.
Within what feels like a fraction of a second, I felt myself yet again being pinned at the nearest wall. Did this man have some fetish for pinning me? I thought to myself. His eyes were dark and those were measuring me from up to down as if I was naked, when the truth is I was clad in my comfy shorts and an oversized shirt with no bra on.
His grip on my wrists tightened when he further pushed me to the wall and said, "how dare you leave the party? Without informing me? That too with another man?" He hissed. "So what would I do when I feel like a misfit at your glam party? That was not my place to be in Hoseok! Why don't you understand? You have seen me at parties before! I am the one who always stays in the corner! Even in the company parties where I know most of the people, I stay aside and you know it all very well. So you should understand how out of place I would feel in a party full of celebrities! I was so fucking embarrassed with the way I looked today among all of them! I can not even name the brands they were wearing! Their shoes were worth more than my entire apartment! Yet I was there! Just because you forced Me. Just because you wanted to make a fool out of me. I was fucking embarrassed and anxious Hoseok! Why the hell did you want me there? Why?" I burst out being unable to contain it anymore. My tears rolled down my cheeks and Hoseok's eyes softened. He let my hands free and wiped my tears away with his thumb. He gently said, "do you really think I would force you to the party just because... Just because.. I wanted to make you look like a fool? I wouldn't do that Y/N. I wouldn't even think of doing anything like this even in my wildest dreams. There was a reason, baby. There was a reason why I needed you there." And I was still angry with everything. I burst out again, "and need me for what?? For what exactly Jung Hoseok? To show me how different your and my worlds are? To show me that I can't even love you? To show me that I am nothing but a cheap thrill to you? To make me believe that I can never be the one for you?". "Shut the fuck up!" His eyes were ablaze. He was clearly infuriated at this point. He held my shoulders and pushed me to the wall again. "You don't get to say anything! You just don't get to put your words in my mouth! I fucking wrote a damn song for you to tell you how I feel for you and forced you to the party so that I could let the World know that you're mine and I'm yours. To let all the guests of the party know that they are only listeners but the girl right beside me was the muse. But what did you do? You left! You left with that nutjob who desperately wants you in his bed! And when I went to look for you, I found you giggling with him!! Tell me is that fair? Tell me is it fair that you choose to stay away even when you love me? Tell me is it fair that I had to chase you when you could easily run into my arms? Tell me Y/N is it fair that you choose to stay oblivious when I..." His voice shook a bit but he continued anyway "when I am desperate for you? When I am in fucking love with you?" My eyes widen with the sudden confession. Was it really not a dream? The man of my dreams was in love with me? Is it even possible?
Before I could say something Hoseok continued, "but now, I have had enough. Enough of this push and pull game of yours. You never reciprocate to me properly but you also never hesitate to kiss me back when I kiss you! What do you want Y/N? Stop giving me mixed signals! Stop being so afraid! Tonight either let me claim you completely or push me away. If you decide to push me away I promise I will never disturb you again." With that he left my hands and just stood in front of me. I wanted to push him away so badly but just the thought of him stopping "disturbing me" knocked me off my breath. He was right. I was being a coward, I was being afraid of the future and I declined to enjoy the present. That's it. Yeah! Carpe diem! Let's live in the present. Hoseok loves me. The man of my dreams loves me. I needed to claim him. And I pressed my lips on his. He didn't even take a second to kiss me back. But he pulled back immediately and said, "So should I take this as an answer?" I looked deep into his eyes and said, "Claim me, Jung Hoseok." "Are you sure? Cause once I claim you, there's no going back." He breathed out. I pressed my lips on his as the response and he devoured me without wasting a second.
And that night he claimed all of me. He claimed me by sealing his lips with mine. He claimed me by touching me everywhere he could. He claimed me by painting bruises all over my body. He claimed me by stuffing me with his fingers and his dick. He claimed me my fucking me raw and shooting his cum in me. He claimed me by naming my v-card in his name. I was sore the next morning and the pain shot through me, the moment I opened my eyes. I actually didn't expect him to stay over. I thought he would leave early when the streets would still be deserted. But there he was laying beside me, looking at me with his sleepy eyes. oh! Was I really waking up beside the man of my dreams? It isn't a dream right? It couldn't be, I was still sore with his claim all over me. "You didn't leave? I thought you would leave." I said. He smiled at me and replied, "I didn't come here to leave Y/N. And I am not leaving till the album releases. I need you to listen to the song, with me beside you." I smiled at his response, I was still in a daze. It was All hard for me to believe. "Can I ask you something?" I asked, staring into his dark brown orbs. "Sure, go ahead." He replied. "Why do you love me, Hoseok? I don't have anything to be loved by a man like you." I finally let out my biggest question ever. He smiled at me, pulling me closer with his one arm draped around my waist. "I love you because you love Jung Hoseok more than you love Jhope. Jhope is loved by millions but Jung Hoseok still craves to be loved. The love that I found in your eyes for the first time when we were introduced. But I didn't think much of it until you decided to confess after being drunk that night. Your love is precious to me Y/N and I don't know if I can find a love like yours if I let you go. And this is what made me adamant to make you mine. And when you didn't reciprocate just because you thought you're not good enough for me, it made me angry. And I burst out seeing you with someone else. Now, remember you are mine and I am yours. So don't you dare ignore me. I'll teach you tough lessons if you do." He completed it. I giggled, shoving my head in his bare chest and we stayed like this until it was time to listen to his song. The song that was written solely for me, oh what a feeling to be a muse. Sitting on my couch being wrapped around in his arms, we kissed and listened to, "Not a dream"
pairing. jungkook x reader established relationship au
genre. angst, eventual fluff
w.c. 1.6k
summary. Jungkook sings to you in the bath after an argument that lead to you getting wasted and him having to take care of you.
contains. mentions of alcohol, implications of alcohol abuse, explicit language, toxic behaviors, angry jk, caring/soft jk, wasted oc
—
"It was one fucking bottle, Jungkook."
Jungkook gently shuts his eyes and takes another deep breath as if acting calm and breathing shallowly will potentially ease the bitter mood that's engulfed you both.
This isn't how he had hoped to spend his night with you. The complete opposite is what he originally aimed for. So when he discovered that 'one fucking bottle' carelessly shattered on the kitchen floor when he got home from work, he knew he had to go through another one of these with you.
'These' being a talk, or lecture, where he attempts to calmly and politely ask you to ease down on your alcohol intake, only for you to downplay his absurd accusations and question him for questioning you about something you don’t think is such a big deal.
"Yeah, one shattered bottle. Y/N, you're wasted, you could have slipped and hurt yourself on that glass." Jungkook's tone is of gentle disbelief, angry that you can't see the blatant danger you had put yourself in all while trying his best to remain soft and calm since he knows you're not in the right headspace.
However, you genuinely don't understand why he's blowing it out of proportion. You're not even drunk, you tell yourself.
"Stop talking to me like I'm drunk, for fucks sake. And okay I dropped the bottle? I was going to clean it before you got home, I got dizzy earlier and couldn’t." You get up from your seat on the couch and walk over to the kitchen which is now also known as an apparent crime scene. "Are you even complaining as my boyfriend who cares or a roommate that's upset about the mess?"
His jaw clenched the more you continued to downplay everything, and when he sees you go to pick up another bottle from the wine rack, he ditches that subtle approach he was taking and lets his anger be known to you.
"I don't give a fuck about the mess! I'm upset at how careless you are, always fucking drinking irresponsibly and making me seem like I'm insane for worrying about it. It's exhausting, Y/N. So fucking exauhsting."
You scoff as you take the corkscrew out of a drawer.
"Then you should go to sleep and stop worrying about me if you're so tired and 'exhausted', Jungkook.” You make a petty note to bump into his shoulder as you walk past him with the wine bottle and corkscrew in hand and to the bedroom, the door slamming shut behind you.
…
Pressing the power button on the remote, Jungkook tosses it back onto the coffee table as he crashes back against the couch with a sigh. He tried to distract himself from the past events, but it’s not working as all he can do is wonder what’s going on in your mind right now.
He’s not even mad, just concerned. He tried looking at it from the perspective of him being wrong, but his pride and overall mind just didn’t make sense of it. He had a right to be angry. As your boyfriend, he’s supposed to get angry at things like that. Especially when you don’t take accountability for it.
He did wonder for a while if he was too hard on you. Was there another approach to take other than accusing you like how he did? Or did he do exactly what he should have? Jungkook narrowed it down to the second one. He nicely tried to start a conversation with you, not an argument. He was concerned and needed to have that conversation. It’s not his fault that you weren’t being mature about it.
And just like that, all thoughts vanish from his once clouded mind as he hears a harsh thump coming from the bedroom.
“Y/N?” he instinctively calls out while jogging up to the door. It’s locked.
Wiggling rather profusely on the locked knob, his other hand goes to knock.
“Y/N, what was that noise?”
He started to become more and more panicked the longer you didn’t answer, so out of options he runs over to the kitchen to grab a toothpick before rushing back and inserting it into the small hole in the center of the knob.
After succeeding, his eyes scavenge the room and when you're nowhere in sight, his heart clenches.
“Y/N!” he shouts as he peeks over the bed, next to the dresser, and every other open space that you could possibly be.
“Gukkie?”
His ears perk up at the vague mumble of his name, rushing into the direction it came from which was the bathroom.
Sitting against the shower door in a soaked t-shirt, your tear-stained cheeks and red nose stand out to him as he makes his way over to you, holding you against him as he frantically checks your body for any major damages.
You continue your silent sob, and he notices as he sits up straight and observes your saddened features again.
His brows furrow in confusion and hurt, hardly able to bear seeing you like this, and just as he gets ready to ask what you were trying to do, you speak.
“I wanted to wash off all the sadness.” you drunkenly pout, head-nodding over to the shower behind you that's still dripping droplets of water out of the shower head.
“Jagi.” Jungkook breathes before shaking his head, palm rubbing at his temple. “You can't do that, okay? Let’s get you up, you need a bath then some rest.”
He’s well aware you’re out of it, the alcohol highly apparent in your breath, and he doesn’t doubt you finished the whole bottle again.
“Did you drink it all?” he asks calmly, almost nicely, as he throws one of your arms over his shoulder to guide you up.
You shake your head no, leaning your weight onto him as he walks you over to the edge of the bathtub.
“I’m s-sorry.” you sob again, this time into his shoulder. He focuses his attention on getting you sat against the tub, your back leaning against the wall as he peels the wet fabric from your body.
“Jungkook, please say something, I don’t want you to be mad. You’re right, I shouldn’t have -”
“I’m not mad at you, Y/N.”
Your pouty lips and wide red eyes find his, and he gives you the smallest smile you think you’ve ever seen.
He’s quick to advert from your eyes, though, keeping himself busy by reaching over to flick the tub’s faucet on. He wants to talk to you about what happened more than anything, just not right now. Especially not when you’re like this.
Despite how drunk you may be, you somehow understand that. You can understand how that’s reasonable, so you close your lips and refrain from shedding any more light on the topic.
Just pretend you never argued.
Pretend as if nothing happened.
Only to wake up and be reminded.
You sob again, your thoughts seeming to be never-ending. Jungkook decides it’s best to just let you cry. He hates it, but realistically there’s nothing he can do.
“Let’s get you in,” he speaks loud enough so you can hear him over your own cries, his hand guiding your arm to slump over his shoulder again as he very carefully walks you into the tub, helping you sit inside as the water continues to fill.
“Is that comfortable?” he asks while stepping out. He takes your new silence as a yes, and just as he believes your okay since you stopped crying, you pull him back in.
“Shit— Y/N!” he exclaims as he falls into the half-filled tub, his once dry clothes now drenched from the waist down.
“Stay in here with me.” you softly plead, like a child who just had a nightmare and wants their parent to sleep with them. He sighs and rubs at his temple, a habit that he picked up just tonight.
He debates in his head for a prolonged moment, not wanting you to cry again but also not wanting to stay sitting in a bath fully clothed. He settles on stripping just his shirt, getting himself as comfortable as possible in the claustrophobic tub before pulling you to lean against his chest.
He turns the nob off, reaches for the loofa, and you beat him to the liquid soap. He halts his pace as you take it upon yourself to squeeze the bottle all over your naked chest.
You sit there frozen and waiting for a second or two before asking him “are you going to wash me or not?”
Your tone wasn’t rude, it was humorous. And Jungkook lets himself smile at it. He’s glad you’re back to being happy again, even if it’s temporary and just a dumb joke.
He brings the loofa to your chest, lathering the floral-scented soap softly along your breasts, then to your neck, then back down your breasts and you giggle when he reaches a certain spot on your stomach.
He can’t help but lightly giggle back, softly apologizing and explaining how he forgot you were ticklish.
As he continues to scrub at your arms and shoulders, he realizes the mood is finally normal. He tries to pretend like nothing else happened tonight except for this moment. He wishes he didn’t fight with you, wishes that you didn’t drink. He wishes he can stay like this forever with you.
But he also knows it was a minor fight and with the right words, you’ll both work it out and use this as an excuse to become even better than you were before. That is the power of love after all.
"Gukkie, can you sing for me?"
~~~
A/N: we love a full circle moment 😗 but i’d be lying if i said i didn’t rush the ending bc i have major writers block rn 😭 forgive me lol :/ but in case you did like it, make sure to like, reblog, and send feedback <3
*also this was originally supposed to be a quick drabble for the attached audio but i decided to build it up im sry 😭
